Tag: Canadian winter

This season always reminds me of my arrival in Canada during a cold winter nine years ago. I was new to the country and everything was covered in snow, this made it even more special, more… unique. It was like I was a kid again, amazed by the novelty of a new place. I remember my first snowball fights and snowmen, rolling a snowball and being completely amazed that it actually grew larger, jut like I had seen in cartoons when I was a kid.

With this new place also came new driving rules and techniques; winter driving was not something I was used to before.

I remember my first winter driving, the nervousness; the respect for snow and ice; and the weird sensation of snow hitting your windshield on a snowy day as if I was aboard the Millennium Falcon. I failed my first driving test when I skid into the middle of an intersection because it was snowing when I first took the test (I understand now that it was a good thing I failed because I obviously was not ready for it). Today I am much more comfortable and feel safe behind the wheel during winter, with some solid years of experience behind me, I always keep in mind my first lessons learned. My speed and driving are always according to the weather conditions, I always take my time and leave enough distance between my vehicle and the car in front, and I am always aware and cautious of snow and ice on the road.

It’s here. Whether you are ready or not, winter is upon us. It might be disguised as a mild beast if you live in Southern Ontario but it’s here nonetheless. Welcome to another edition of Pass Me the Star (Screwdriver) or PMS.

An important detail to remember before the weather really takes a turn is to ensure your car is winter ready, too. For many of us this means changing our tires over to winter ones and perhaps getting an oil change to a more hearty oil to maximize performance in colder temperatures. To ensure your vehicle is properly protected you should also consider getting those knicks and scratches dealt with. Why can’t they wait until the spring? Well, they probably can. But. Yes, there’s always a but. Any surface damage that has broken through the paint coat will be more prone to oxidation, especially in colder, wetter temperatures, and therefore rust. Rust can turn what appears to be a quick and simple repair right now into a nightmare if it spreads to a larger area. Instead of buffing and repainting the damage, you’ll be looking at a much larger repair.

My two cents? If you have multiple or a few large areas that need to be repainted, don’t wait until the spring. Colorworks are experts with this sort of repair. They get it. Let them set you and your vehicle up for success this winter by taking care of your repairs now, not when they evolve into a bigger problem (and bill) for you down the road. Find a location near you today and be proactive this winter. http://colorworks.ca/find-a-location.html

Thanks for tuning in this week to PMS. Stay safe on those roads and we’ll catch you in a week or two!

In many parts of Canada, it has been one of the worst Winters in recent memory. It’s tough on us, but it’s also less than ideal for your car’s delicate skin too!

The salt that has been sitting on the paintwork keeps the roads from being slippery, but it’s corrosive, and any chips and abrasions on the surface will quickly deteriorate and rust. Of course, all that ice and snow has done a great job at hiding any little indiscretions that may have occurred with a snow bank or worse.

The best thing you can do is keep your car as free of salt as possible, even though it may seem that it’s not worth cleaning it, as it’ll only get dirty again.

As we move towards Spring, feel free to drop into your local Colorworks Express Autobody location, we’ll rinse your car off and inspect it for free for you. If you have any issues with the paintwork, we’ll provide you with a no-obligation quotation to put it right.

After that, our advice is to give the vehicle a Spring coat of wax, which will help protect the paint from the equally damaging effects of the Sun, and re-energize the look of your pride and joy!